Baht bus Pattaya

[ichigo]

Excuse my ignorance, but can someone explain in detail how one catches a baht bus from Jomtien complex to boyztown (and opposite)? I’ve never done it before and just want to make sure I do it correctly lol. Thanks 

[bkkmfj2648]

Hello

You walk onto the main road, Thappraya road (the busy road in front of the main entrance of Supertown) and you flag down (wave with your hands) the bahtbus and if he is:

Not full

Or in-service

He should pull over and then you get on the back of the pickup truck. 

You ring the bell when you see from your mobile phone map app that you are near your destination.

Then you disembark and walk up to the driver and give him 10 baht.

Good luck and have fun.  I use the bahtbus at least 3 to 4 times each week.

[floridarob]

10 minutes ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

Then you disembark and walk up to the driver and give him 10 baht.

Doesn't the price increase once you cross S. Pattaya rd  ?

 

[bkkmfj2648]

No, if you are northbound from Jomtien going into Pattaya city - 10 baht can bring you as far north as the Terminal 21 shopping mall before the bahtbus heads towards beach road to head south.

Yes, if you are southbound and decide to return to Jomtien from the heart of northern (Terminal 21) or central (Central Festival), then you have to pay for 2 different bahtbuses at 10 baht each.

You will need to disembark at the below mentioned intersection and walk over to the southbound Jomtien bahtbuses.

What I usually do is just walk to the route beginning point at the intersection of South Pattaya road and Pattaya Sai 2 road (near BoyzTown) where the bahtbuses heading southbound into Jomtien begin.

[thaiophilus]

4 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

 you flag down (wave with your hands) the bahtbus

 

... but don't flag an empty bus, and don't ask the driver where he's going. Otherwise you might find you've chartered the entire bus as a taxi, for a lot more than 10 baht 😲.

[ichigo]

5 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

Hello

You walk onto the main road, Thappraya road (the busy road in front of the main entrance of Supertown) and you flag down (wave with your hands) the bahtbus and if he is:

Not full

Or in-service

He should pull over and then you get on the back of the pickup truck. 

You ring the bell when you see from your mobile phone map app that you are near your destination.

Then you disembark and walk up to the driver and give him 10 baht.

Good luck and have fun.  I use the bahtbus at least 3 to 4 times each week.

Thank you - this is incredibly helpful!

[macaroni21]

I have experienced at least one occasion when the songthaew I boarded in Jomtien heading towards Pattaya and which I intended to ride all the way to Boyztown, unexpectedly turned right into Pattaya Tai road in the direction of Third Road and Sukhumvit Road. Of course I had to alight quickly as did some other passengers. Fortunately I could walk the rest of the way to Boyztown, but the others had to catch another songthaew to continue their journey north for another 10 baht fare. 

Similarly, there was one occasion when I was headed to Central mall but the songthaew turned right into Pattaya Klang Road instead of continuing up Second Road. This time, thought I might walk the rest of the way to Central, until it started to rain when I had to resort to flagging down another songthaew and expend another princely sum of ten baht for a 2-minute ride to my destination.

On these occasions, the first passenger must have negotiated the route with the driver, but all the subsequent passengers, myself included, simply assumed it would travel the full length of Second Road to the dolphin circus. Or maybe there was a sign on the windshield to indicate the unusual route except that tourists like me were illiterate fools.

[bkkmfj2648]

Yes, in rare occassions the bahtbus (songthaew) does deviate and/or abrubtly terminate its route. But I would say that this only happens 1% to 2% of the time, as it is a very rare event.

A Dutch friend of mine back in Jomtien sent me this recent photo of the back of a bahtbus, which I found to be hillarious.

 

Meanwhile, over here in Cebu, Philippines, the bahtbus equivalent = Jeepney are very different than what we have back in Pattaya. They are more colorful and can accomodate more passengers, but they have low ceilings making them feel somewhat claustophobic.

[gerefan]

And make sure you have the correct amount of money.

I have seen several passengers get off and pay with 50 or 100 baht notes and the driver has just driven off!
 

Even saw one farang yelling that the driver had just driven off with his 1000 baht note.

[vinapu]

6 hours ago, gerefan said:

And make sure you have the correct amount of money.

I have seen several passengers get off and pay with 50 or 100 baht notes and the driver has just driven off!
 

Even saw one farang yelling that the driver had just driven off with his 1000 baht note.

driver was dishonest thief and farang stupid idiot , shit happens.

You absolutely right about need to have correct change , otherwise we may be tempting fate, not necessarily for big amount though.

[floridarob]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

You absolutely right about need to have correct change

Extra pockets is also the key 👍

[kokopelli3]

The proper way, as taught to me by a Thai, to flag down a Baht Bus is to hold your right arm straight out in a somewhat down position. Not to hold it up and wave to the driver. Of course anything works.  The price is 10 Baht but that does not mean you can't give more. Often on a longer ride, especially when the bus is nearly empty, I give 20 Baht and once gave 100 Baht during the lean times of Covid when one driver and his family provided me a ride in an empty bus..They were grateful.

As for deviating from the "regular" route, that is quite often coming from Jomtien to  Pattaya at Pattaya Tai. Often the drivers will turn into Pattaya Tai and then make a U turn and go back toward Jomtien. 

[reader]

11 hours ago, gerefan said:

Even saw one farang yelling that the driver had just driven off with his 1000 baht note.

If Moonlight models can get thousand baht garlands just for posing, baht bus drivers are entitled to their version from stupid farangs.

[daydreamer]

If you use songtaews in Pattaya, something to know is that the trucks that ply the Pattaya - Jomtien route are marked with a distinctive wide white band, painted along the lower body.  

Boarding one of these songtaew in Jomtien ensures they will be headed to Pattaya, and not divert to other locations (unless privately hired).  This is important - if say you are in front of Rompho Market, on Jomtein Second Road, south of the roundabout.  

Always make sure you board one with the white band to avoid frustration, and a ride to somewhere you didn't intend to go. 

See the photos below of the Pattaya songtaew with, and without the white stripe marking.

 

 

[bkkmfj2648]

27 minutes ago, daydreamer said:

If you use songtaews in Pattaya, something to know is that the trucks that ply the Pattaya - Jomtien route are marked with a distinctive wide white band, painted along the lower body.  

Wow!!

Thank you very much as I did not know this.  Good to know.

Once while going northbound from Jomtien (near Supertown) into Pattaya city, the bahtbus turned left at Phra Tamnak and then drove down to the Bali Hai pier.

Then he went from the pier and continued back onto the normal route on Pattaya Sai 2 road.

Would you know why?

I found this very convenient if it was for a day that I would be going to Koh Larn where the speedboats depart from the Bali Hai pier.

Is this a special Bali Hai bahtbus route?

 

[kokopelli3]

One very important thing to be aware of is pickpockets!  Mostly women and often with an accomplice. Keep your hand on your pocket or keep your items in a shoulder bag. Carry only the money you plan to use that day and never carry your Passport. If a woman shifts from one side to the other and sits next to you, you are a target!. They are quite clever and can snatch your wallet just as you reach to push the off buzzer. Also as your board the bus be wary of someone offering you a seat next to them. Even some farang are an accomplice and may try to divert your attention. These pickpockets can use a stolen credit card to get money from  your account.  Hope I didn't discourage anyone from riding the Baht Bus but best to always be aware. I learned from experience.

[Londoner]

Has anyone travelled in the new buses? Quieter and smoother, more comfortable seating, better protection from the rain but no "cage" at the back to allow extra passengers. We were lucky enough to have two Jomtien to Pattaya journeys on them back in November. Perhaps, they will eventually replace all the old (and very old) ones. 

[daydreamer]

Update to Pattaya songtaews:

I first learned of the white stripe mentioned in my post above more than 30 years ago.  I was invited to ride in a songtaew cab, up front with the driver.  That used to be common.  I talked with the driver on the way to Jomtien, and he explained about the white band marking.

I am currently in Pattaya.  Today so far, I have taken three Pattaya songtaew rides.  I noticed that some still have the marking on the lower body as I mentioned in the post above.  But this being Thailand, there are now a couple variations.  

Many songtaews on the Pattaya - Jomtien route now display the wide white band on the top of the windshield front glass.  I also saw a few today that have moved the stripe to the sloped metal roof, just above the cab.  My guess is the newer trucks display it on the front for easier visibility, when the songtaew is headed toward you.  And there are many with the white stripe on both the sides and the front.

In any case, it is still prudent to look for the white stripe if you are south of the hanuman statue intersection in Jomtien, or north of the songtaew station at the corner of Pattaya Tai (South Road) and SaiSong (Second Road).

Of course, any Pattaya songtaew is free to take you anywhere, with previous agreement.  And yes, there are a few on the Jomtien - Pattaya route with no white stripe.  There are a number of songtaew routes in Pattaya.

Even armed with the above information, don't get upset if your songtaew makes an unexpected turn.  Today on Dongtan Beach, I checked the menu, and asked for a kiwi fruit smoothie.  "No have kiwi, but have mango" I was told.  So I ordered the mango smoothie.  In five minutes, the boy delivered a nice cold pineapple smoothie to me.  Rather than get upset, I followed the Thai way, and enjoyed my pineapple smoothie.  "Slow and easy" is the local way.  Sabai - sabai.

[daydreamer]

50 minutes ago, kokopelli3 said:

One very important thing to be aware of is pickpockets! 

I have lived in many different countries, and something I learned early on was to always carry your wallet in your front pocket.  It would be very difficult for a kamoey (thief) to wrangle it out of your front pocket.

[daydreamer]

5 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

Once while going northbound from Jomtien (near Supertown) into Pattaya city, the bahtbus turned left at Phra Tamnak and then drove down to the Bali Hai pier.

Then he went from the pier and continued back onto the normal route on Pattaya Sai 2 road.

Would you know why?

 

Hard to say exactly why your songtaew diverted from the normal route, but in this case, it was likely at the request of a passenger. 

If you speak to the driver about your destination, it is assumed you have charted the songtaew.  Last time I checked, it was 200 baht for a charter.  And the driver will still stop and accept other passengers to ride in your "private charter".

That is where the info about the white stripe comes in useful.  You do not want to ask the driver if he's going to Pattaya (or any destination).  If you mention a destination, you will be likely charged 200 baht for your short trip.  

[gerefan]

I recall a few years ago new Somgtaew regulations were bought in.

They required them to have route numbers and destinations displayed (like any other regular bus). Also they were only permitted to stop at designated bus stops which were painted along the various routes.

What happened? TIT….it just all got ignored by the drivers and we are right back at square 1. Nothing displayed and stop anywhere! 

[macaroni21]

2 hours ago, daydreamer said:

Update to Pattaya songtaews:

I first learned of the white stripe mentioned in my post above more than 30 years ago.  ....

Of course, any Pattaya songtaew is free to take you anywhere, with previous agreement.

Then it's some kind of record for best kept secret!

But if a white striped vehicle can be chartered at any time to take a different route, and the driver happily takes on other unsuspecting customers en route, how can we rely on the white stripe to mean what it's supposed to mean?

51 minutes ago, gerefan said:

I recall a few years ago new Somgtaew regulations were bought in.

They required them to have route numbers and destinations displayed (like any other regular bus). Also they were only permitted to stop at designated bus stops which were painted along the various routes.

What happened? TIT….it just all got ignored by the drivers and we are right back at square 1. Nothing displayed and stop anywhere! 

I recall reading about this too. 

[floridarob]

2 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

how can we rely on the white stripe to mean what it's supposed to mean?

This falls under the all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares rule 😁

[ichigo]

This is a great discussion, and I think it just goes to show here in Thailand, most things are flexible and we just have to go with it and adapt. If the baht bus goes the wrong way, no big deal, just hop off and another one should be nearby. What's another 10 baht after all..

For those who are interested, I did successfully catch my first baht bus today on Thappraya road, however it was full and I ended up standing on the back which was a little nerve-wracking for me and I was holding on for dear life (not that the songtheaw was going super fast, but I still didn't like it). Some people got off before the intersection of Pattaya Sai and South Pattaya road so I just got off as well and walked the rest of the way. So now I know what to do and will likely do it again a few times in the next few days!

[bkkmfj2648]

7 hours ago, ichigo said:

however it was full and I ended up standing on the back which was a little nerve-wracking for me and I was holding on for dear life (not that the songtheaw was going super fast, but I still didn't like it)

@ichigo Welcome - now you are bahtbus initiated.

That back area where you stand is my preferred area (only if it is not raining).

Why?

I feel that it is more independent from the interior area where sometimes there can be people that make me feel uncomfortable, as in they try to strike up invasive conversations that I don't want to share with everyone on the bahtbus, they are drunk or smell, etcetra.

In that back area you are mostly isolated from all of those discomforts.

Lastly, it is very easy to disembark from.